Monday, February 11, 2013

Recruiting Update: February 11, 2013

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2014
Houston (TX) Cypress Falls linebacker Otaro Alaka was offered by Michigan. Alaka is a 6'3", 205 lb. linebacker with offers from Arkansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma, among others. He claims a 4.65 forty and is an early 4-star to Rivals.

Manalapan (NJ) Manalapan wide receiver Saeed Blacknall was offered by Michigan. Blacknall is a 6'2", 190 lb. wideout with offers from Georgia Tech, Pitt, and Rutgers, and he claims a 4.5 forty. As a junior in 2012, he had 40 catches for 473 yards and 11 touchdowns. He's a speedster with good size, and I'm a little surprised he doesn't have a better offer list. His numbers aren't extremely impressive, but his highlights are full of big plays.

Aliquippa (PA) Aliquippa safety Dravon Henry was offered by Michigan. Henry is a 5'11", 185 lb. running back/safety with offers from Ohio State, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, and West Virginia. As a junior in 2012, he had 116 carries for 1,919 yards and 23 touchdowns, but Michigan wants him as a safety. Pitt appears to be his leader for now.

Gardena (CA) Junipero Serra cornerback Adoree' Jackson was offered by Michigan. Jackson is a 5'10", 170 lb. corner with offers from LSU, Miami, Nebraska, UCLA, and USC, among others. As a junior in 2012, he had 56 tackles and 5 interceptions. Jackson is electric with the ball in his hands and could by a dynamic corner and return man. In my opinion, he's a 5-star talent.

Olney (MD) Good Counsel linebacker Melvin Keihn was offered by Michigan. Keihn is a 6'3", 225 lb. outside linebacker with offers from Maryland, Miami, Rutgers, and West Virginia, among others. As a junior in 2012, he had 14 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble returned for a touchdown. He could also end up at weakside defensive end.

Highlands Ranch (CO) Valor Christian running back Christian McCaffrey was offered by Michigan. McCaffrey is a 6'0", 195 lb. back with offers from Colorado, Colorado State, Oregon, Stanford, Vanderbilt, and Washington, among others. As a junior in 2012, he had 30 rushing touchdowns and 6 receiving touchdowns. He's the son of former NFL wide receiver Ed McCaffrey, and he attends the same high school as 2012 offensive line target Alex Kozan (Auburn). Michigan is recruiting the younger McCaffrey as a slot receiver.

Washington (PA) Washington running back Shai McKenzie was offered by Michigan. Mckenzie is a 5'11", 210 lb. running back with offers from Arkansas, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, and West Virginia, among others. As a junior in 2012, he had 2,689 rushing yards and 42 rushing touchdowns. He's a compact, powerful, downhill runner who claims a 4.42 forty. He's from the same hometown as redshirt junior defensive tackle Ken Wilkins, but a different school.

El Cerrito (CA) El Cerrito cornerback Adarius Pickett was offered by Michigan. Pickett is a 5'10", 175 lb. corner with offers from Arizona State, Cal, UCLA, and Utah, among others. 247 Sports ranks him as the #13 cornerback in the class and the #160 overall player in the nation.

Long Beach (CA) Poly wide receiver John "Juju" Smith was offered by Michigan. Smith is a 6'1", 185 lb. wideout with offers from Arizona, UCLA, USC, and Washington, among others. He attends the alma mater of former Michigan cornerback Donovan Warren.

McDonough (GA) Eagle's Landing Christian defensive end Andrew Williams was offered by Michigan. Williams is a 6'4", 231 lb. weakside end with offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and USC, among others. Eagle's Landing Christian is the alma mater of a couple other Michigan targets in recent years, including Isaac Rochell (Notre Dame) and Avery Walls (Cal).

Gardena (CA) Junipero Serra linebacker Dwight Williams was offered by Michigan. Williams is a 6'0", 190 lb. weakside linebacker prospect with offers from Cal, Nebraska, Tennessee, UCLA, and Washington, among others. As a junior in 2012, he had 158 tackles, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, and 4 forced fumbles. He attends the same high school as elite corner Adoree' Jackson, who also holds a Michigan offer.

Memphis (TN) White Station defensive end Petera Wilson was offered by Michigan. Wilson is a 6'3", 220 lb. end with offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, and USC, among others. He's an early 4-star to Rivals.

Englewood (NJ) Dwight Morrow wide receiver Juwann Winfree was offered by Michigan. Winfree is a 6'2", 180 lb. receiver with offers from Maryland, Pitt, and Rutgers, among others. He has good size with pretty good speed and an ability to run after the catch.

ADDED TO THE BOARD: 2015
Salt Lake City (UT) Brighton linebacker Osa Masina was offered by Michigan. Masina is a 6'4", 190 lb. prospect with offers from BYU, Utah, and Wisconsin. His older brother plays for the Utes, but Masina isn't tied into playing for Utah. He's an aggressive, athletic linebacker who would likely play SAM in Michigan's defense

Orlando (FL) Timber Creek running back Jacques Patrick was offered by Michigan. Patrick is a 6'1", 200 lb. tailback with offers from Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Ohio State, and USC, among others. As a sophomore in 2012, he had 231 carries for 2,032 yards and 29 touchdowns, along with 2 catches for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns. He's a downhill runner who runs with good body lean, has a little bit of shiftiness to him, and has very good speed. He looks like a future 5-star or at least a high 4-star prospect.

OFF THE BOARDVienna (GA) Dooly County defensive tackle Montravius Adams committed to Auburn. Clemson was considered to be his leader up until a few days before National Signing Day. He's an explosive defensive tackle who should set up shop in opposing SEC backfields soon.

Westerville (OH) South linebacker Marcus Ball flipped from Wisconsin to Arizona State. His older brother Ray is an offensive lineman at Wisconsin. Michigan impressed Marcus on an official visit in December, and rumors suggested he almost flipped to the Wolverines.

Port Saint Lucie (FL) Saint Lucie West Centennial defensive tackle Jay-nard Bostwick committed to Florida. Bostwick was originally scheduled to visit Michigan the weekend of January 18th, but he canceled that trip, so Michigan never really had a chance to woo him.

Somerville (NJ) Immaculata defensive end Tashawn Bower flipped from Auburn to LSU. Bower was a long-time Auburn commitment, so this was a bit hit to their class.

Fort Lauderdale (FL) University School wide receiver Jordan Cunningham committed to Vanderbilt. The Commodores almost came out of nowhere, because most experts thought he would end up at either Miami or Stanford.

Louisville (KY) Trinity defensive end Jason Hatcher committed to Kentucky at the last minute. His recruitment was a wild one that involved two de-commitments from USC in recent weeks.

Corona (CA) Centennial offensive guard Cameron Hunt flipped from Cal to Oregon. For a long time, Hunt was looking for a way out of Cal's class. If Dan Samuelson had not committed to Michigan, I think there's a very good chance that Hunt would have taken that final offensive line spot in the Wolverines' class. Here's the scouting report I had written up on Hunt.

Southfield (MI) Southfield defensive end Lawrence Marshall committed to Ohio State. This came as a little bit if a surprise to me because I had heard that Michigan was slightly ahead in the recruiting process, but he and several other prospects visited Columbus this weekend, and I guess he was impressed.

Washington (DC) Friendship Collegiate Academy linebacker Yannick Ngakoue committed to Maryland. He had previously been committed to the Terps, but he de-committed to consider Florida State, among others.

Charlotte (NC) Mallard Creek wide receiver Marquez North committed to Tennessee. It was a North Carolina vs. Tennessee battle up until the end, but the Volunteers won out.

Lake City (FL) Columbia offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil committed to Ole Miss. Tunsil had long been considered a Georgia lean, so this commitment - along with a few others - has raised some eyebrows for people who are wondering how a mediocre SEC team is pulling in such good talent.

Placer (CA) Placer defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes committed to Notre Dame. Vanderdoes is one of the top few defensive tackles in the nation, in my opinion, so he will be a force to deal with for Michigan over the next couple seasons. Here's the scouting report I wrote up on Vanderdoes.

Cordova (TN) St. Benedict running back Jordan Wilkins committed to Ole Miss. Wilkins had been committed to Auburn for several months, but the coaching changes for the Tigers caused a bit of an issue with some of the recruits. Here's the scouting report I had written up on Wilkins.